Signal-lantern.



No. 871,088. v PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

, W 3. HA MM. SIGNAL LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1907.

In Wanton WILLIAM S. HAMM. OF LAKESIDE, ILLINOIS.

SIGN AL-LANTERN lilo. 871,088.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed May 6. 1907. Serial No. 372,090.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. IIAMM, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Lakeside, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Lanterns, ofwhich the following is a specification and which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to signal lanterns, particularly such as are usedon railway trains, and which are provided with shit'table color glassesarranged to be interposed between the flame and the lantern lens so thatdifferent signals may be given by change of color.

The invention relates to the mechanism for shifting the color glassholders, its object being to simplify the construction and operation ofsuch devices, to render them more certain in their action, and togenerally increase their efliciency.

The invention is exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, andwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa detail sectional view of the lantern and the signaling mechanism,taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of thelantern; Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 33 of Figv 1; and Figs.4, 5, 6, 7, S and 9 are details of the controlling mechanism, some ofthe figures showing modifications.

Part of the body of a signal lantern is shown at 10, and has a lensopening 11 in its side wall and a pair of swinging frame-arms 12, 13,each carrying a color glass and mounted to be moved into and out ofregister with the lens. The swinging frame-arms 12, 13, are carried by acommon pivot 14, lixed within a box 15 attached to the body of thelantern and opening into its chamber, and having suitable means, such asthe oscillating finger 16, for securing its glass.

The shanks 17 and 18 of the frame-arms are longitudinally slotted, andinto each takes the wrist pin 19, 20, of a cranlcarm 21, 22. Each of thecrank-arms 21, 22, is carried by a hub 23, 24, loosely mounted on apivot-pin 25, fixed in outstanding lugs 26, 27, for med on the exteriorof the box 15. Each of the hubs 23, 24, carries a hand-piece 28, 29,exterior of the box 15, by means of which it may be oscillated for thepurpose of swinging the frame-arm with which it cooperates.

Springs 30, 31, attached to the inner wall of the box 15, bear againstthe ends of the .t'rame-arms I2, 13, and hold them yieldingly in each oftheir extreme positions. I

In devices of this kind it is important that but one of the frame-armscan be moved into register with the lantern lens at a time, and hencethat the advance of one will lock the other against movement. In thepresent instance this is accomplished by forming the adjacent faces ofthe hubs 23, 24, each with a shoulder, one of which is shown at 32. andlocating between them a stop-block 33 of such size and form that it willbe crowded by the advance movement of either of the hubs into engagementwith the shoulder of the other, This stop-block 33 may be supported in avariety of ways. In Figs. 2 and 8 it is shown as carried by a spring-arm34, secured to the outer face of the box 15. In Fig. 10 it is shown ascarried by an oscillating arm 35, having an aperture 36 to accommodate astud or pin by means of which it may be secured to the wall of the box15. In Figs. 6 and 7 it is shown as sliding upon the pivot pin 25 andbeing housed within a jacket 37, I

which may be secured to the outer wall of the box 15 in any desiredmanner, as by means of solder. A shield 38 may be secured to the outerface of the box 15 and extend downwardly to protect the controllingmechanism from the weather and from cinders, etc.

When both of the frame-armsare raised out of register with the lanternlens both of the hand pieces 28, 29, will be directed upwardly. Bydepressing one of them the frame with which it cooperates is thrown downinto register with the lens, and the stop-block 33 is moved intoengagement with the shoulder 32 of the other hub. When the hand-piece isagain raised, the stopblock is free to return to its original position,and, when the spring-arm 34 is used, is carried to a central positionthereby.

In the iroms of construction illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, thestop-block is preferably formed with beveled or inclined ends, so thatwhen no spring is provided for centering it the shoulder 32 of theadvancing arm will move it by a cam action.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a device of the kind described, incombination, an oscillating frame-arm, an oscillntable actuating member,an arm carried by sucll member and being in sliding engagement with theframe-arm.

2. In a device of the kind described, in combination, an oscillatingframe-arm, an oscillatable actuating member, an arm carried by suchmember and being in sliding on gagement with the frame-arm. and acontrolling arm projecting from the osclllatable member.

3. In a device of the kind described. in combination, a pair ofoscillatuble frame-arms, a pair of oscillatable actuating arms one insliding engagement with each of the frame-arms. a rcciprocablestop-block located between the actuating arms and movable by each intothe path of the other.

-l. In a device of the kind described, in combination, a pair ofoscillutable frnme urms, a pair of oscillatable actuating arms one insliding engagement with each of the frame-arms, each having a hub, areclprocable stop-block located between the hubs and having beveled endsfor engagement therewith.

In a device of the kind described,'in combination, a pair ofoscillatable frame-arms, a pair of oscillatable actuating. arms one insliding engagement with each of the frame-arms. a reciprocablestop-bl0ck located between the actuating arms and movable. by each intothe path of the other, and a spring normally holding the block incentral position.

6. In a device of the kind described, in combination, a

pair of oscillatable frame-arms, a'pair of oscillatable actuating armsone in sliding engagement with each of the frame-arms, a reciprocablest0pb10ck located between the actuating arms and movable by each intothe path of the other, and a spring-arm having a fixed anchorage andengaging the block to hold it normally in central position.

7. In a device of the kind-described, in combination, a pair ofoscillatable frame-arms, a case covering the journaled ends thereof, apivot external of the casing and carryinga pair of hubs, an actuatingarm projecting from each hub through the casing and slidingly engagingone of the framearms, means for turning the hubs, and a stopblocklocated between the hubs and movable by each into engagement with ashoulder on the other.

8. In a device of the kind described, in combination, a pair ofoscillatable frame-arms, a pair of oscillatable actuating arms,connection between each of the oscillating arms and one of theframe-arms, a reciprocable stopbl0ck located between the actuating armsand movable by each into the path of the other.

WILLIAM S. HAMM.

Witnesses:

LOUIS K. GILLSON, E. l\L KLATCHER.

